small as a world and as large as alone

maggie and milly and molly and may


went down to the beach (to play one day)


and maggie discovered a shell that sang


so sweetly she couldn’t remember her troubles,and


milly befriended a stranded star


whose rays five languid fingers were;


and molly was chased by a horrible thing


which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and


may came home with a smooth round stone


as small as a world and as large as alone.


For whatever we lose(like a you or a me)


it’s always ourselves we find in the sea

-by e.e cummings